James 2:23, commentary and pictures

Abraham's belief counted to him as righteousness was trusting faith that bore fruit in obedience, not belief alone. That word was fulfilled when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar, as it had been shown when he left his country at God's command for a land God would show him. His faith worked together with his deeds until by obedient action it was brought to maturity and proved alive and complete. By that working faith he was justified and not by faith only, and for such trust and prompt obedience even under test he was called the Friend of God.

Belief Counted as Righteousness

Abraham's belief was not bare assent but trusting faith that bore fruit, and God counted that faith to him as righteousness. That counting joins a life of faithful action to a faith expressed through obedience, brought to maturity and shown to be living and complete through obedient deeds. True faith is therefore never mere profession but is proved by practical Christian work, obedience to God at any cost, and overcoming of selfishness.

The declaration that Abraham believed God was fulfilled when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar, and then he was called the Friend of God. His faith was also seen earlier when at God's command he left his country for a land God would show him, obeying the same divine voice that later told him to offer his son as a sacrifice. His offering of Isaac stands as evidence that his faith was approved by God, shown through implicit trust, obedience, and surrender, and for this he was named the Father of the faithful.

Abraham was saved through faith in Christ in the same way sinners today are saved through faith in Christ. He was justified by a faith that works obedience, not by trust in his own merits. His acceptance rested on Christ's righteousness and on God's mercy, not on anything he could claim for himself.

His faithfulness was shown in obeying God, keeping His law, acting justly, and teaching his household to follow the Lord, for which he was called both the friend of God and the father of all who believe. The faith that receives forgiveness also leads the forgiven person to forgive others freely.

Faith Completed by Works

Faith acted together with works, and by works was brought to maturity and shown to be alive and complete through obedient action, especially in the offering of Isaac upon the altar. The scripture declaring belief counted for righteousness was fulfilled in that act of obedience, when believing trust was made evident and perfected. Works proved and corresponded to faith, and in that living connection righteousness was credited and the believer was called God's friend. Faith is thus strengthened and made complete by works, not by claiming that faith alone saves.

By works a person is justified and not by faith only, while faith without good works does not justify and cannot save. Faith without works is dead, and works that match profession are the evidence of faith. Mere profession of faith in Christ has no value as genuine faith, for genuine faith is shown by love through works. Belief without fruit leaves the heart unchanged and does not trouble the adversary, whereas genuine faith leads to good works and a life that imitates self-denial. A profession that does not lead to action is dead, for genuine conversion does not leave a person under the power of covetousness but is shown to be living through deeds of benevolence. Profession alone does not prove a saving connection; true repentance produces good works, and obedience to the divine will in words, conduct, and character shows that connection as the believer personally does the will and relies for support and strength.

Works testified to the character of faith, proved it and corresponded to it, giving visible evidence of it. What is professed as theory must be shown by works, and obedient action gives visible evidence of the faith counted as righteousness. Genuine faith claims the favor of Heaven only by complying with the conditions upon which mercy is granted. It has its foundation in the promises and provisions of Scripture, and holiness requires coming into harmony with the principles of the law which express the divine nature and will and show what is well pleasing. Presumption counterfeits faith by claiming promises as an excuse to transgress, as the first parents did when they disobeyed while trusting that love would spare them from the consequences of sin. Genuine faith trusts the promises yet does not claim favor while disregarding the conditions, but works with obedience, while faith without works is dead.

The doctrine of faith and faith only is condemned, including sanctification as an instantaneous work by faith alone with no further effort, no striving, no self-denial, and release from obligation to keep the commandments. The faith counted for righteousness is faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Faith that does not work by love and purify the soul cannot justify. It is not mere profession of keeping the commandments and dwelling on the importance of obeying the law while failing to work righteousness and walking against the law. Messengers are sent to warn such professors and turn them to the paths of righteousness, but those without this working faith refuse to heed the warnings.

Faith alone is not enough, and works alone are not enough, but together they can accomplish much. Faith is the inward working of the Holy Spirit and works are the outward demonstration of practical godliness in daily life. The proof of heart-love is obedience to the commandments, studied and lived in constant submission to the will, with loyalty to the Sabbath as the sign of government leading through obedience to that truth to every principle of the Decalogue. At the present time there is great danger of taking false positions about their true relation, for the adversary is ever ready to imbue the mind with his own wisdom, making men cavilers and skeptics, and through unconsecrated minds poor souls become confused and walk in darkness. One whose heart has not been changed by genuine religious experience cannot discern spiritual matters and should not guide and direct servants of God, especially when the effort is made to make men believe that messages from the throne are forgeries while leading them to accept forged lies as truth.

Genuine faith is connected with judgment by works, for the law demands more than words, pretense, and semblance, but calls for works, and people are known by their fruits. Love shown through works is counted as evidence of genuine faith, and deeds done from love, even if small in human eyes, are accepted and rewarded. Faith in the Word must be active and include doing the will, and future happiness depends on that active faith. Character will be tested, and in the day of final judgment every person will be judged according to the deeds done in the body, when nothing remains but character and the law and all are seen as either righteous or unrighteous. As with Cornelius, sincere fear of God and righteous conduct are accepted according to the light had, but faith and righteousness cannot be complete without receiving further truth about Christ as God reveals it. Knowledge of Christ must be received as revealed, for without it faith cannot reach its completion.

Called the Friend of God

Abraham was called the Friend of God because he trusted God and obeyed Him even when tested, beginning the painful journey to offer Isaac without waiting to reason the command out. Isaac was the son God had promised would become a great nation, yet Abraham obeyed at any cost, showing that true faith is not mere profession but practical Christian work and overcoming of selfishness. He was called the friend of God and the father of all who believe, named the Father of the faithful. His faithfulness was shown in implicit trust, obedience and surrender, in keeping God's law, acting justly, and teaching his household to follow the Lord, teaching that faith is demonstrated by works and that nothing is too precious to give to God.

His friendship with God was shown in a life of prayer and humble obedience, for wherever he pitched his tent he built an altar beside it and offered morning and evening sacrifice with his family. The altar remained when the tent was moved on, standing as a witness so that a passing Canaanite could recognize who had worshiped there. Abraham repaired the altar where he had camped, and Canaanites who had learned from him used it to worship the living God and learn to worship Him. His hospitality to the strangers at Mamre displayed the kindness for which he was called God's friend, for in welcoming them he ministered not only to angels but to God as Creator, Redeemer, and King, and received the counsels of heaven.

People today may likewise be recognized as God's friends when they approve what God approves and condemn what He condemns. God's presence with them is evident in conduct marked by tenderness, dignity, and propriety, which inspires awe and restraint even in sinners. Abraham's example belongs to living faith, not dead formalism, for being a child of Abraham does not require keeping the ceremonial rites that pointed forward to Christ and reached their fulfillment in Him, while remaining faithful to the Ten Commandments. The title of God's friend shows the great value of that friendship, for those who honor God's law may accept losses in business and separation from friends because they value God's friendship and Christ's riches more than worldly interests. People should therefore earnestly reform so they may have friendship with God, rather than lowering the standard of truth and holiness to please others.

Living Faith in Practice

James 2:23 gives practical instruction to be brought into daily life and heeded day by day as God's great remedy for the diseases of body and soul and His health reform prescription. Received through Christ's grace and built into character, its principles of righteousness bring heaven near, bring prosperity, bring happiness of spirit, cause the salvation of God to be seen, open the heart to an experience that makes a tower of strength, and make the place of work a place where angels delight to come, with triumph at last for the overcomers who follow it. The verse belongs to a chapter that calls believers to practice the truth in daily life, and reading and obeying its instruction helps them recognize the work God has given them to do.

Genuine belief is put into practice by combining faith and works, walking in the light, and doing the work God calls each one to do, and such active faith helps enlighten, convict, and aid others. The faith counted for righteousness is a working faith called into exercise by good works, and faith increases by doing the work God gives to do, especially personal effort to bring friends and relatives to Christ, with courage and hope growing in accordance with that working faith. A bright and living experience comes not from selfishly enjoying grace while leaving all work to the minister, but from each one doing his work in the vineyard of the Lord and making direct appeals for souls, so that unselfish, faithful workers advance in the divine life and share largely of divine grace here and the reward of earnest labor hereafter. Faith and good works go hand in hand in practical care that relieves the afflicted and helps them live to glorify God and be prepared for salvation at Christ's coming.

Faith is made complete by works, so that a profession of faith that does not lead to action is dead, and genuine conversion does not leave a person under the power of covetousness but is shown to be living through deeds of benevolence. Faith and works go hand in hand so that no one is at liberty to fold the hands and do nothing, being saved in indolence and inactivity is utterly impossible, and winning eternal life involves constant conflict. True faith is not merely professing belief, for belief without fruit leaves the heart unchanged and does not trouble Satan, while genuine faith leads to good works and a life that imitates Christ's self-denial. As Abraham's faith was counted as righteousness and he was called God's friend, true faith is shown through practical Christian work, obedience to God at any cost, and overcoming selfishness. A profession of faith alone does not prove a saving connection with Christ, but true repentance produces good works, and obedience to God's will in words, conduct, and character shows that connection as the believer personally does God's will and relies on Jesus Christ for support and strength. Genuine faith is inseparable from repentance, transformation of character, and the fruits of the Spirit.

Faith is the inward working of the Holy Spirit and works are the outward demonstration of practical godliness in daily life, and the proof of heart-love for God is obedience to His commandments. All who love God study His words and, eating His flesh and drinking His blood, live and act in constant submission to His will, and loyalty and truth to the Sabbath as the sign of God's government brings through obedience to the Sabbath truth to every principle in the Decalogue, with God responsible for every soul who wears that sign. Abraham's righteousness was credited to him in connection with living faith, his works proved and corresponded to his faith and faith was made complete through those works so that he was called God's friend, and believers likewise shine as lights in the world through the continuing exercise of faith and love. A mere profession of faith in Christ is not genuine, but love shown through works is counted as evidence of genuine faith, and deeds done from love, even if small in human eyes, are accepted and rewarded by God. Faith and works belong together in their true relation, yet at the present time there is great danger of taking false positions about them. Satan is ever ready to imbue the mind with his own wisdom, making men cavilers and skeptics, and through unconsecrated men poor souls become confused and walk in darkness, while a man whose heart has not been changed by genuine religious experience cannot discern spiritual matters and should not guide and direct God's servants, as Satan tries to make men believe that messages from God's throne are forgeries while leading them to accept as truth the lies he has forged.